Moving way back in the thread, I like Stu's advice as well. The water in the Gorges du Tarn is usually high enough for canoe trips in early June and they are idyllic. If you stay several nights in the Gorges, we were delighted with the Chateaux de La Caze. Because we did not want to explore for dinner on the tight roads in the Gorges, we signed on for the Half Board and were more than happy with the meals. BTW, when you arrive, the first greeter is often a black labrador named Pica (emphasis on the a). He will sit by the car and wag his tail until scratched between the shoulders.

The hotel is family run, he cooks and madam supervises the restaurant. Summer dining is often on the terrace and we found out that it is true that a dryer sheet in a shirt pocket keeps the mosquitos away or that there are none in the Gorges du Tarn.

Just come back from France and we spent 2 weeks more-or-less in the areas you mention. Must see's in Dordogne - Millau (viaduct and the village), Brantome (LOVED this village and wish I'd spent more than one night there), Rocamadour, Sarlat (especially at night). Provence- well everywhere actually! One place we nearly didn't go to till we were recommended to was Caracssone- its spectacular and very glad we went. Also loved Avignon and Aix-en-Provence. Toulouse would be a great base especially as you have a car. For me, I would go back to the Dordogne area in a flash and if the dollar-God would help I would buy a little cottage there. I felt so at home there and there was nothing I didn't love.

One more thing- I agree with Stu, don't spend much time in the Loire. A full day out at Versailles is better- SO much to see if you walk all the way through the lower gardens to the lake. Driving up through the Loire Valley we found endless turn-offs to various chateaux that became time-consuming and eventuslly a bit ho-hum. "Oh yes another one, thats nice too". Spend the time in Provence and Dordogne and drive through to CDG.

>>Must see's in Dordogne - Millau (viaduct and the village),<<

That's not really in the Dordogne - it's in the Aveyron - perhaps a 4 hrs away from Sarlat.

Stu Dudley

JS,We loved Brantome too and the other placs you mention but our favorite stay , especially at night was St Cirq LaPopie.
In Languedoc, we loved the remote village of Plaisance, staying at the Magnolias.
Provence I can never get enough of.

Thanks so much everyone. Great sugestions on places to stay. I'll have to check them out and get to making those lodging reservaions.

We really want to stay in one location while in Provence. St Remy seems like a good base and I have read some posts on St Remy and recommendations for hotels. Any suggestions for chambres d'hotels in St Remy? OR is there a better town to set up for a week in Provence?

If you want to be in a town, as opposed to out in the countryside, then I think St Remy would be your best bet. l'Isle sur la Sorgue would probably be second best. I actually prefer Uzes to both St Remy & l'Isle sur la Sorgue, but it's not as centrally located as the other two.

We stay in Gits, so I don't have any B&B recs.

Stu Dudley

Thanks Stu, we'll concentrate on St Remy. Our trip is coming together and I appreciate the advice.

We just returned from Dordogne. Our base for the Sarlat area was Monfort. We stayed at La Bard which is owned by a British couple. It is one of the nicest B&Bs I've stayed in (www.perigord-dordogne-sarlat.com). In Rocamadour we stayed at Lion D'Or (www.liondor-rocamadour.com). It is very conveniently located & has easy parking right in the old part of the city. While the room was only adequate the breakfast was great. [I'm not sure why the links are repeated twice but I can't seem to correct it.]